By Olamide Awoyinfa
The riveting Nigerian striker Joshua Abah has had an incredible career, starting in the Nigerian League, moving on to AS GARDE DU NIGER in the Niger Republic, and finally ending up at Ghazieh SC in the Lebanese Premier League.
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| 24-years old Joshua Abah |
In an exclusive interview, Joshua shared his experiences, challenges, and dreams, giving us a glimpse into the life of a determined footballer chasing his goals on and off the pitch. Joshua Abah will best be described as a towering titan on the pitch, with the strength of a bull and the finesse of a predator.
Abah's journey in football started in Nigeria, where he honed his skills at various clubs, including GBS Academy, Jigawa Golden Stars, and MFM, before taking his talents to Togo's Asko De Kara FC.
From there, he moved to AS Garde du Niger in the Niger Republic, where he had a successful stint, clinching the league and FA Cup titles and finishing as the second-top scorer with 10 goals and 1 assist. However, he narrowly missed out on the top scorer award to a player from Espoir FC, who netted 14 goals.
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| Joshua Abah in AS Garde Du Niger |
Despite this setback, Joshua's talent caught the attention of Ghazieh SC, leading to his leap to the Lebanese Premier League.
After finishing 11th in the 2020–21 Lebanese Premier League, Chabab Ghazieh was relegated back to the Lebanese Second Division on April 11, 2021. They were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Lebanese Second Division in 2021–2022. Joshua Abah joined Ghazieh for the 2023–24 season from AS Garde du Niger.
Transitioning to life at Ghazieh SC in Lebanon presented its own set of challenges for Abah. From language barriers to adapting to a different style of play, he faced it all. "My first challenge was the language," he shared, highlighting the communication barrier with his coach and teammates.
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| Abah in Ghazieh SC colors |
"But as a professional, I had to adjust, and having an interpreter really helped me communicate with my coach and teammates. and let's not forget about the food,” Joshua revealed.
However, as a true professional, Abah embraced these challenges, showing resilience and determination. Despite the struggles and the team's current position at the bottom of the league, Abah remains optimistic.
"Our team is filled with new players, and the first leg has been about understanding each other better. We're working tirelessly to improve,” and about the future, he expressed hope that as the season progresses, they will improve as a team and climb up the rankings.
Amidst the challenges of adapting to a new environment, Joshua humorously shared, "I definitely miss home sometimes and have battled homesickness. But as we say, 'Bill to pay plenty'—work comes first, and I remain focused on my goals."
The striker also jokingly shrugged off missing Nigerian football, maybe as a testament to his dedication to Ghazieh SC and the Lebanese league.
Looking to the future, Joshua envisions playing for the Nigerian national team, expressing his unwavering belief that his time will come. "Representing my country has always been a dream, and I trust that I will seize the opportunity well when it arises," he affirmed with determination.
As for his long-term aspirations, Joshua's eyes sparkle with ambition. "I hope to play in the English Premier League someday, and I love the French League also. I also dream of donning the green and white of Nigeria sooner rather than later." His dedication to reaching new heights in his career is truly inspiring.
With an eye on the second half of the season, Joshua was motivated to contribute to his club's improvement but didn’t want to reveal how many goals he would finish with this season. He, however, hinted and said, "To score double figures, but the numbers will stay close to my heart for now."
The 24-year-old, who has only scored twice in 11 games, is preparing for an explosive season when the 2023–24 Lebanese Premier League's second phase starts in February.
